Pop goes the Crispy Cake!

We’ve all been making chocolate crispy cakes for years; if you are old school like me then it will be with cornflakes or rice krispies. If you are a bit posher/younger/cooler than me it will be crunchy nut cornflakes and coco pops, but if you really want to glam up these family favourites then why not give the cereal box the boot and pop some corn instead?

That’s what I did and this is my recipe for sticky Toffee Apple Curd caramel chocolate popcorn cakes (and if you think that’s a mouthful wait until you taste them, they’ll keep even the rowdiest customers quiet…until the sugar rush hits of course).

I’ve suggested using canned Dulce de Leche as it works and it’s easy but if you want to make your own caramel and use that instead, go ahead. There are lots of recipes available on line, just don’t set your sauce too hard or it won’t mix with the popcorn.

I’m almost ashamed to call this a recipe, it’s so simple, but here goes.

Ingredients (makes about 10 small or 5 rather large popcorn cakes):

50g popcorn (I suggest using one of the microwave bags, just make sure it’s plain)

100g dark chocolate (milk works too)

1 tbsp brandy (optional)

2 tbsp Toffee Apple Curd

1 tbsp Dulce de Leche (or homemade caramel, see above)

Pinch salt

Method(!):

Place all ingredients (except chocolate and brandy, if using) in a bowl and mix until combined. The popcorn should start coming together in sweet, sticky, toffee clumps. Add the Curd and caramel gradually until you have your preferred consistency (but if it looks like your traditional cornflake cake then you’ve got it right). Spoon into paper cases and set aside. Eat any leftovers before anyone else can.

Gently melt the chocolate in a bowl over a simmering pot of water (don’t let the water touch the bottom of the bowl) and when completely melted stir in the brandy, if using.

Drizzle the melted chocolate over popcorn cakes and leave to cool (or eat while the chocolate is still warm if you can’t wait).

Try mixing things up by adding nuts or dried fruit to the popcorn mixture, or what about marshmallows or chocolate buttons? As long as you have plenty of Curd to keep everything a lovely, sticky, gooey mess then knock yourself out. What’s your perfect toffee apple popcorn cake?